Workplace harassment takes many forms. One of the most common is sexual in nature. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) defines sexual harassment as harassment based on sex or of a sexual nature; gender harassment; and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The definition of sexual harassment includes many forms of offensive behavior, including harassment of a person by someone of the same sex.
If you or a loved one has been sexually harassed at the workplace in Sacramento County, you need an experienced attorney. Call Liberation Law Group at 1-888-442-2642 for a free consultation in Spanish — 24/7. There is absolutely no fee to discuss your case, and no fee at all unless we win.
Types of Sexual Harassment
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors
- Actual or threatened retaliation
- Leering or staring
- Making sexual gestures
- Displaying sexually suggestive objects, images, cartoons, or posters
- Making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes
- Sexual comments, including graphic comments about a person’s body
- Sexually degrading words used to describe an individual
- Suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations
- Physical touching or assault, or blocking movement in the workplace
- When a boss or supervisor has sexual relations with an employee, even if initially consensual
- When a boss or supervisor solicits sex from an employee
Victims of sexual harassment frequently suffer psychological harm for many years after the incident. All people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity — especially in the workplace. Sexual harassment has the power to destroy a person’s dignity, drive, self-confidence, and effectiveness. This can be made worse when the victim is not believed or the harassment is not acknowledged.
Two Legal Theories in Sexual Harassment Cases
Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
Quid pro quo harassment is the most common type. It occurs when the victim is told that their job and/or specific benefits depend on the sexual favors being demanded. Those benefits can include shift scheduling, promotions, or pay raises. This is illegal, and the entire company is liable for the actions of its managers, leaders, and administration.
Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment
Hostile work environment harassment occurs when actions or speech make the workplace hostile for the victim. This can include sexual insinuations, unwanted touching, obscene images or posters, lewd behavior, and inappropriate jokes or conversations with sexual content.
When an Employer Is Liable for Workplace Sexual Harassment
All employers, regardless of the number of employees, are covered by the harassment provisions of FEHA. Employers are generally liable for harassment by their supervisors or agents. Harassers — including both supervisory and non-supervisory staff — can be held personally liable for harassing an employee or coworker, or for aiding and encouraging harassment.
The law requires employers to take “all reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring.” If an employer has not taken such preventive measures, they can be held liable for the harassment.
A victim may be entitled to damages even if no employment opportunity was denied and there is no actual loss of wages or benefits. Additionally, if an employer knows or should have known that a non-employee (such as a client) has sexually harassed an employee and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action, the employer can be held liable for that non-employee’s actions.
Employers are also required to develop and implement policies that include fully informing the complainant of their rights, effectively investigating complaints, communicating to the complainant that steps have been taken to prevent the harassment from recurring, and taking appropriate measures to remedy any harm suffered by the complainant.
What to Do After Workplace Sexual Harassment in Sacramento
Employees or job applicants who believe they have been sexually harassed can hire an attorney to represent them or file a discrimination complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) within 3 years of the harassment. Speaking with an employment attorney first is the best way to protect your rights, your job, and maximize your recovery.
Although our office is in San Francisco, we represent workers throughout Northern California — including Sacramento, the Central Valley, and surrounding areas. The same FEHA laws and employment protections that apply in San Francisco apply equally in Sacramento. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Do you need an attorney today?
Attorney Arlo Uriarte can evaluate your case — free, in Spanish, 24/7. 1-888-442-2642 — free consultation here.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sexual Harassment in Sacramento
Do California’s sexual harassment laws apply in Sacramento?
Yes. California’s FEHA applies uniformly throughout the state — in Sacramento exactly as in San Francisco. The same deadlines (3 years from the most recent act), the same definitions of sexual harassment, and the same penalties apply. Sacramento cases are heard before the Sacramento County Superior Court, located at 720 9th Street. Liberation Law Group can represent you in that court. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Which industries have the most sexual harassment cases in Sacramento?
In Sacramento we see a high incidence of sexual harassment in: the government sector (state and municipal agency employees); healthcare (UC Davis Medical Center, Dignity Health, Kaiser Sacramento); restaurants and hospitality in downtown Sacramento and Midtown; agriculture in the Sacramento Valley and surrounding areas; and domestic work in the metropolitan area suburbs. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How long do I have to report workplace sexual harassment in Sacramento?
You have 3 years from the most recent act to file a lawsuit under California’s FEHA — in Sacramento just as anywhere in the state. For civil sexual assault claims: up to 10 years. Act quickly. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Can an undocumented worker in Sacramento sue for sexual harassment?
Yes. FEHA protections apply to all workers in California regardless of immigration status. Your immigration status does not affect your rights or the value of your case. We handle all cases with complete confidentiality. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Does an arbitration agreement block my sexual harassment case in Sacramento?
No. The 2022 Federal Law prohibits forced arbitration in sexual harassment and sexual assault cases — nationwide, including Sacramento. You can choose to go to court before a jury regardless of what you signed. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Can my Sacramento employer retaliate against me for reporting harassment?
No. Retaliation is completely illegal under FEHA. If your employer takes any negative action after you report harassment, that significantly aggravates their legal liability. Read about your rights against retaliation. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How much could a sexual harassment case in Sacramento be worth?
The same types of compensation apply in Sacramento as in San Francisco: lost wages, uncapped emotional distress damages under FEHA, medical costs, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. The value depends on the severity of the harassment, its duration, and the damages suffered. Free evaluation at 1-888-442-2642.
Does Liberation Law Group handle cases in Sacramento?
Yes. We serve workers in Sacramento and the Central Valley. Consultations are conducted by phone or video call — you do not need to travel to San Francisco. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Liberation Law Group — Employment Attorneys for Workers, 24/7
2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110
1-888-442-2642
Free Consultation in Spanish — No Obligation — No Fee Unless We Win
